mendacious

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "mendacious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a person who habitually lies or someone who has told a lie. For example: "The mendacious politician was caught in a lie about his true intentions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Last April, the centre-right Fidesz party gained more than two-thirds of seats, ousting a socialist government widely perceived as corrupt and mendacious.

The Guardian - Opinion

The new government in 2010 made mendacious comparisons between Britain and Greece.

The Guardian - Opinion

High-flying public talk, when carried out in a climate of censorship, cannot help but be mendacious.

The Economist

The province was settled before the first world war by European farmers, lured to the area by free land and the mendacious promise of an "agreeable" climate (winters can feature temperatures of minus 50 degrees Celsius, and summers 40 degrees).

The Economist

Crude and mendacious it may be, but the Sun senses the popular mood.

The Economist

The anti-hero, Axel Vander, is a famous old literary critic, arrogant, lecherous and cruel, mendacious and a thief, possibly even a killer (Mr Banville's magic is that he makes one care about the monster).

The Economist

THE Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual powwow in Singapore for Asia-Pacific defence chiefs, has begun to follow a pattern: America and its friends in Asia line up to criticise China for its alleged transgressions in the seas around its coast; China issues fierce, mendacious and unconvincing rebuttals; everybody goes home.

The Economist

But the official claim that the country is a union of federal states was long mendacious.

The Economist

And there have already been four Iraq inquiries, though none as comprehensive as this one.Some reckon its failure to unearth masses of new information is down to a mix of mendacious reticence on the part of key witnesses and the pusillanimity of their inquisitors.

The Economist

Whether lacerating the Yes side's wishful, or mendacious, predictions for an independent Scotland's economic prospects; or glorifying the benefits of scale and co-operation that lie in the current arrangement, often using Biblical rhetoric, Mr Brown gave a glimpse of a brilliance that was seldom evident during his time in 10 Downing Street.

The Economist

After an inquiry into the Duggan killing ruled it lawful last month, he carefully condemned the mendacious handling of the case by the police, while offering no encouragement to the dead man's belligerent supporters.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mendacious" when you want to emphasize the deliberate and habitual nature of someone's lying. It carries a stronger connotation than simply saying someone is "dishonest".

Common error

Avoid using "mendacious" when describing unintentional errors or honest mistakes. "Mendacious" implies a deliberate intent to deceive, unlike a simple misunderstanding.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "mendacious" primarily functions to describe someone or something as untruthful or dishonest. Ludwig's examples show it often modifies nouns like "claims", "statements", or "handling", emphasizing the deceitful nature of the described entity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "mendacious" is used to describe someone or something as dishonest or untruthful. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. It is commonly employed in News & Media and Encyclopedias to express disapproval of deceitful behavior, statements, or claims. Related terms include "dishonest", "untruthful", and "deceitful", but "mendacious" often implies a more deliberate and habitual tendency to lie. While its register is neutral, it is best used to describe intentional deception, rather than unintentional errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

untruthful

More direct synonym, focusing on the lack of truth in a statement or behavior.

deceitful

Implies an intention to mislead or trick someone.

dishonest

Broader term, referring to a lack of honesty without necessarily implying deliberate lying.

fraudulent

Specifically refers to deception for financial or personal gain.

lying

Describes the act of telling lies, emphasizing the action rather than the inherent quality.

prevaricating

Involves avoiding the truth or speaking evasively.

false

Indicates something that is not in accordance with fact or reality.

fallacious

Describes something based on mistaken belief or reasoning, not necessarily intentional.

perjured

Refers to lying under oath, a specific legal context.

erroneous

Indicates something that is simply incorrect or contains mistakes.

FAQs

How can I use "mendacious" in a sentence?

You can use "mendacious" to describe someone who is habitually dishonest, for example: "The politician's "mendacious statements" were finally exposed by the press."

What is a simple synonym for "mendacious"?

A simple synonym for "mendacious" is "dishonest", although "mendacious" carries a stronger connotation of deliberate deceit.

Is it appropriate to describe an object as "mendacious"?

Yes, you can describe a statement, claim, or document as "mendacious" if it contains lies or falsehoods. For instance: "The report contained several "mendacious claims" about the company's profits."

What is the difference between "mendacious" and "misleading"?

"Mendacious" implies an intent to deceive, while "misleading" suggests that something gives a false impression, even if unintentionally. A "mendacious" statement is deliberately false, while a "misleading" statement may be technically true but still deceptive.